Problematic Pornography Use: Legal and Health Policy Considerations

Abstract

Purpose of Review Reports of sexual violence, especially towards women and children, are rapidly increasing. At the same time, rates of problematic pornography use (PPU) are accelerating across the world too. The purpose of this review is to consider the recent research on PPU and its contribution to sexual violence. The article offers guidance to governments on possible health policy interventions and legal actions to prevent the development of PPU and to reduce the incidence of sexual violence in society. Recent Findings Working from the consumer’s point of view, we identify PPU and ask how much pornography is needed to cause PPU. We examine how PPU drives sexual offending in children, adolescents and adults. The impact of PPU on some consumers’ behaviour suggests significant links to domestic violence. Sexual strangulation is highlighted as an example. Artificial intelligence algorithms play a key role in the pornography industry and appear to be driving escalation to more violent material, inducing high levels of sexual dysfunction in consumers and creating appetites for viewing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Summary Easy access to internet pornography has led to an increase in PPU and sexual violence. Diagnoses and treatments for PPU are examined, as are legal transgressions of a civil and criminal nature arising from PPU. Legal remedies and government policy implications are discussed from the point of view of the precautionary principle. Strategies covered include age verification for pornography, public health campaigns and embedded health and legal warnings for users at the start of pornography sessions along with lessons for pupils about pornography’s impact on the brain.

A relação entre o uso do celular e a exposição precoce a pornografia: uma revisão integrativa de literatura

“…Dessa forma, é imprescindível que não somente os pais supervisionem o que os filhos fazem na internet, mas também que a legislação acompanhe a ascensão da indústria pornográfica e impeça que ela atinja mais crianças e adolescentes (MARCHI. et al, 2021;SHARPE;MEAD, 2021).…”

Aggravation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Due to Excessive Porn Consumption: A Case Report

“…Many psychiatrists in their work have highlighted the need for public health intervention and legislation to serve the cause. To cite an example, Sharpe et al listed down a few important health policy considerations including public health campaigns, school education, age verification, and precautionary principles to help curb the problem [ 19 ].…”

Pornography addiction and its bad effects on mental health and their homoeopathic management

“…In England, from year 2012 to 2016 there was 78% rise in such incidences. It is a contributory factor in emergence of harmful sexual behavior [7] . There is high co relation (85%) between viewing child pornography and child sexual abuse [10] .…”